Remembering the Cast of "Make Room for Daddy" / "The Danny Thomas Show" (583)
It was one of the longest running family sitcoms in television history. Right there along side "I Love Lucy", "The Honeymooners", "Father Knows Best" and "My Little Margie" it was one of the most beloved programs of the day.
It began on ABC as "Make Room for Daddy" on September 29, 1953. After 120 episodes the title changed to "The Danny Thomas Show" and in 1957 the program moved to CBS. After a healthy eleven year run the show ended on April 27, 1964 after producing 351 episodes total. In 1970 a majority of the cast returned for the show "Make Room for Granddaddy" which lasted from 1970 to 1971 producing 24 episodes.
The cast was headed up by Danny Thomas who played nightclub entertainer Danny Williams. Jean Hagen played his wife Margaret, Rusty Hamer played his son Rusty and Sherry Jackson played his daughter Terry. Jackson played Terry from 1953 to 1958 followed by Penny Parker who played the role from 1959 to 1962. Danny's eccentric Uncle Tonoose was played by veteran character actor Hans Conried. Sid Melton could be seen as Danny's agent Charlie Halper, Lousie Beavers and then Amanda Randolph played housekeeper Louise, Pat Harrington, Jr. played Terry's husband Pat Hannigan and Bill Dana could be seen occasionally as doorman Jose Jiminez.
In 1956, Jean Hagen left the series and the script was modified to show that Margaret Williams had passed away. By the end of the 1956-1957 season Danny was shown keeping company with Irish nurse Kathy O'Hara played by Marjorie Lord. Kathy and Danny married by the time the show began the 1957-1958 season. Kathy had a daughter of her own, Linda, played by Anglea Cartwright whom Danny welcomed into the family with open arms. Both Lord and Cartwright were with the program from 1957 until it concluded in 1964.
The show has the distiction of being the very first sitcom to "kill off" a major character. It is also one of the first programs to feature the step-parent/step-child relationship on a regular basis.
Remembering....
Danny Thomas (1914-1991)
Jean Hagen (1923-1977)
Rusty Hamer (1947-1990)
Hans Conried (1917-1982)
Sid Melton (1917-2011)
Louise Beavers (1902-1962)
Amanda Randolph (1896-1967)
Marjorie Lord (1918-), Angela Cartwright (1952-), Sherry Jackson (1942-), Penny Parker (1941-), Pat Harrington, Jr. (1929-) and Bill Dana (1924-) are still with us at the time of this posting.
Remembering famous and recurring guest stars:
Mary Wickes (1910-1995)
Sheldon Leonard (1907-1997)
Gale Gordon (1906-1995)
Amzie Strickland (1919-2006)
William Demarest (1892-1983)
Bob Hope (1903-2003)
Jack Benny (1894-1974)
Dinah Shore (1916-1994)
Milton Berle (1908-2002)
It began on ABC as "Make Room for Daddy" on September 29, 1953. After 120 episodes the title changed to "The Danny Thomas Show" and in 1957 the program moved to CBS. After a healthy eleven year run the show ended on April 27, 1964 after producing 351 episodes total. In 1970 a majority of the cast returned for the show "Make Room for Granddaddy" which lasted from 1970 to 1971 producing 24 episodes.
The cast was headed up by Danny Thomas who played nightclub entertainer Danny Williams. Jean Hagen played his wife Margaret, Rusty Hamer played his son Rusty and Sherry Jackson played his daughter Terry. Jackson played Terry from 1953 to 1958 followed by Penny Parker who played the role from 1959 to 1962. Danny's eccentric Uncle Tonoose was played by veteran character actor Hans Conried. Sid Melton could be seen as Danny's agent Charlie Halper, Lousie Beavers and then Amanda Randolph played housekeeper Louise, Pat Harrington, Jr. played Terry's husband Pat Hannigan and Bill Dana could be seen occasionally as doorman Jose Jiminez.
In 1956, Jean Hagen left the series and the script was modified to show that Margaret Williams had passed away. By the end of the 1956-1957 season Danny was shown keeping company with Irish nurse Kathy O'Hara played by Marjorie Lord. Kathy and Danny married by the time the show began the 1957-1958 season. Kathy had a daughter of her own, Linda, played by Anglea Cartwright whom Danny welcomed into the family with open arms. Both Lord and Cartwright were with the program from 1957 until it concluded in 1964.
The show has the distiction of being the very first sitcom to "kill off" a major character. It is also one of the first programs to feature the step-parent/step-child relationship on a regular basis.
Remembering....
Danny Thomas (1914-1991)
Jean Hagen (1923-1977)
Rusty Hamer (1947-1990)
Hans Conried (1917-1982)
Sid Melton (1917-2011)
Louise Beavers (1902-1962)
Amanda Randolph (1896-1967)
Marjorie Lord (1918-), Angela Cartwright (1952-), Sherry Jackson (1942-), Penny Parker (1941-), Pat Harrington, Jr. (1929-) and Bill Dana (1924-) are still with us at the time of this posting.
Remembering famous and recurring guest stars:
Mary Wickes (1910-1995)
Sheldon Leonard (1907-1997)
Gale Gordon (1906-1995)
Amzie Strickland (1919-2006)
William Demarest (1892-1983)
Bob Hope (1903-2003)
Jack Benny (1894-1974)
Dinah Shore (1916-1994)
Milton Berle (1908-2002)
